2007 Draft Picks who have signed

[Guest]

I want Victor Sanchez. :(

[Guest]

The Cubs have yet to sign third baseman Josh Vitters, the third overall pick. Scouting director Tim Wilken said an agreement might be close. The Cubs have until Aug. 15 to come to terms with Vitters, who has a scholarship to play at Arizona State.

 

- Sun-Times

[Guest]

LHP James Russell, Texas (14th rounder) - who was expected to return for his senior season - has instead signed with the Cubs for $350,000 (third round money)!

 

Preston Clark (33rd rounder) still expects to be back with Texas but is in contact with the Cubs.

 

Austin American-Statesman[/url]"]Pitcher Russell signs with Cubs

 

By Alan Trubow

 

University of Texas pitcher James Russell announced he signed with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday and will not return for his senior season with the Longhorns.

 

Russell accepted an offer for $350,000 and the Cubs will pay for up to five semesters of college.

 

The Longhorns' Friday night starter throughout this past season finished his junior year with an 8-4 record and a 3.86 ERA in a team-high 109-plus innings.

 

He will fly to Mesa, Ariz., to take a physical and expects to start his professional career in the Cubs' minor-league system at Daytona Beach, Fla.

 

"It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make," said Russell, who was drafted by Chicago in the 14th round. "I had so much fun playing in Texas and it was just a great experience."

 

Heh, I think Boise or Peoria is much more likely than Daytona.

Edited August 9, 2007 by CaliforniaRaisin

[Guest]

Sanchez & Vitters, Sanchez & Vitters, Sanchez & Vitters, Sanchez & Vitters, Sanchez & Vitters, Sanchez & Vitters, Sanchez & Vitters, Sanchez & Vitters

[Guest]

$350,000 means only Josh Donaldson and Tony Thomas (and maybe Ryan Acosta) got bigger bonuses amongst those who have signed. That's waaaay over slot.

 

I think we can kiss Sanchez good bye.

[CUBZ99]

LHP James Russell, Texas (14th rounder) - who was expected to return for his senior season - has instead signed with the Cubs for $350,000 (third round money)!

 

Preston Clark (33rd rounder) still expects to be back with Texas but is in contact with the Cubs.

 

Austin American-Statesman[/url]"]Pitcher Russell signs with Cubs

 

By Alan Trubow

 

University of Texas pitcher James Russell announced he signed with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday and will not return for his senior season with the Longhorns.

 

Russell accepted an offer for $350,000 and the Cubs will pay for up to five semesters of college.

 

The Longhorns' Friday night starter throughout this past season finished his junior year with an 8-4 record and a 3.86 ERA in a team-high 109-plus innings.

 

He will fly to Mesa, Ariz., to take a physical and expects to start his professional career in the Cubs' minor-league system at Daytona Beach, Fla.

 

"It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make," said Russell, who was drafted by Chicago in the 14th round. "I had so much fun playing in Texas and it was just a great experience."

 

Heh, I think Boise or Peoria is much more likely than Daytona.

 

What type of arsenal does Russell have? Sounds like the Cubs must have been pretty high on him.

[Guest]

What type of arsenal does Russell have? Sounds like the Cubs must have been pretty high on him.

 

Kind of surprising but BA wasn't too flattering to him when he was drafted. BA said he threw an 84-88 FB, marginal offspeed stuff and a plus change - that's not the type of stuff that would normally make the Cubs go super slot especially now that it would draw the ire of the commissioner's office, so I wonder if BA is right on their scouting report or there's something else to Russell.

[UK1679666180]

What type of arsenal does Russell have? Sounds like the Cubs must have been pretty high on him.

 

Kind of surprising but BA wasn't too flattering to him when he was drafted. BA said he threw an 84-88 FB, marginal offspeed stuff and a plus change - that's not the type of stuff that would normally make the Cubs go super slot especially now that it would draw the ire of the commissioner's office, so I wonder if BA is right on their scouting report or there's something else to Russell.

 

This is what I got on him...

 

If ever a pitching prospect was different from his father, it might be Russell. His father Jeff debuted in the big leagues as a righthanded starter but eventually became an all-star as a closer with a plus-plus curveball. James Russell, along with being lefthanded, relies on command of a low-90s fastball for his success, along with a solid changeup. The one pitch that Russell has struggled to develop this spring while assembling an 8-3, 3.53 record with 81 strikeouts in 81 innings as the Longhorns’ Friday starter is a dependable curveball. He’s a hard-nosed competitor on the mound. The one thing that might happen that will tie Jeff and his dad together is their draft status. Dad was a fifth-round pick in the 1979 draft and son James looks like he’ll fit in somewhere around that area this year.

 

It def. is a different set of reports as far as velo, who knows maybe BA got their report mostly from a diff. day (a bad velo day) and didn't follow up too much given they didn't project him as a top 5 rounder.

[reggiemiller rules]

Since I saw you guys were talking about Texas players I just thought that I would throw in a little bit about Kyle Russel. St Louis reporter Jeff Gordon reported that Russell is close to signing with the Cards. This would be great for the Cards as he has huge power potential.

[Guest]

What type of arsenal does Russell have? Sounds like the Cubs must have been pretty high on him.

 

Kind of surprising but BA wasn't too flattering to him when he was drafted. BA said he threw an 84-88 FB, marginal offspeed stuff and a plus change - that's not the type of stuff that would normally make the Cubs go super slot especially now that it would draw the ire of the commissioner's office, so I wonder if BA is right on their scouting report or there's something else to Russell.

 

This is what I got on him...

 

If ever a pitching prospect was different from his father, it might be Russell. His father Jeff debuted in the big leagues as a righthanded starter but eventually became an all-star as a closer with a plus-plus curveball. James Russell, along with being lefthanded, relies on command of a low-90s fastball for his success, along with a solid changeup. The one pitch that Russell has struggled to develop this spring while assembling an 8-3, 3.53 record with 81 strikeouts in 81 innings as the Longhorns’ Friday starter is a dependable curveball. He’s a hard-nosed competitor on the mound. The one thing that might happen that will tie Jeff and his dad together is their draft status. Dad was a fifth-round pick in the 1979 draft and son James looks like he’ll fit in somewhere around that area this year.

 

It def. is a different set of reports as far as velo, who knows maybe BA got their report mostly from a diff. day (a bad velo day) and didn't follow up too much given they didn't project him as a top 5 rounder.

 

Thanks UK. I read from other reports that his FB wasn't "fringy" like BA said and that it was an above average pitch but it didn't have any added description on movement or velo. That's from PG Crosschecker?

 

No way in hell the Cubs give up that much money for a guy who pitches the way BA described it.

[Guest]

Since I saw you guys were talking about Texas players I just thought that I would throw in a little bit about Kyle Russel. St Louis reporter Jeff Gordon reported that Russell is close to signing with the Cards. This would be great for the Cards as he has huge power potential.

 

Good pick for the Cardinals in the 4th round. I figured he'd sign despite his bonus demands.

 

It'll be interesting to see if he can handle pitching in the high minors in the bigs or if he goes the way of Joe Borchard (might not be fair but that's the first guy I thought of when I saw his description).

Edited August 9, 2007 by CaliforniaRaisin

[UK1679666180]

Yeah, it's from PGC. If you want any other reports on Cubs draftees, just PM me....

[NCCubFan]

St Louis reporter Jeff Gordon reported that Russell is close to signing with the Cards.

So that's what he does in his free time when he's not racing or botching the name of the Cubs' ballpark. :D

[wvcbxl]

The Cubs have yet to sign third baseman Josh Vitters, the third overall pick. Scouting director Tim Wilken said an agreement might be close. The Cubs have until Aug. 15 to come to terms with Vitters, who has a scholarship to play at Arizona State.

 

- Sun-Times

 

I hope they are warming up the ink. Only two days left....

[sporrer17]

The Cubs have yet to sign third baseman Josh Vitters, the third overall pick. Scouting director Tim Wilken said an agreement might be close. The Cubs have until Aug. 15 to come to terms with Vitters, who has a scholarship to play at Arizona State.

 

- Sun-Times

 

I hope they are warming up the ink. Only two days left....

 

I don't think there's any reason to believe he won't be signed. The Cubs will be willing to pay him, he's a top talent, and he hasn't shown any signs of not wanting to play for the Cubs.

[cuubs4life]

Vitters not signing has also taked away from his development time. Now instead of playing at Mesa, and possible Boise this season, and starting out at Peoria next season, he will likely just finish out the season in Mesa, and play at Boise next season. very dissapointing.

[sporrer17]

Vitters not signing has also taked away from his development time. Now instead of playing at Mesa, and possible Boise this season, and starting out at Peoria next season, he will likely just finish out the season in Mesa, and play at Boise next season. very dissapointing.

 

With as polished as they seem to think Vitters is, he will be at Peoria next year. I don't see them taking a terribly slow approach with Vitters. I actually would like to see him hit Boise when he signs, but not having played in a while it may be better for him to go to Mesa for a few...

[Guest]

Vitters not signing has also taked away from his development time. Now instead of playing at Mesa, and possible Boise this season, and starting out at Peoria next season, he will likely just finish out the season in Mesa, and play at Boise next season. very dissapointing.

 

With as polished as they seem to think Vitters is, he will be at Peoria next year. I don't see them taking a terribly slow approach with Vitters. I actually would like to see him hit Boise when he signs, but not having played in a while it may be better for him to go to Mesa for a few...

 

I think the Cubs will take it slow with Vitters, even with him being talked about sa having an advanced approach and whatnot. He will definitely have to show something to break with Peoria next year -Marquez Smith (meh), Jovan Rosa and Marwin Gonzalez all have a chance at third base with Peoria next year.

[craig]

I would be shocked if Vitters gets an AB this summer after he presumably signs tomorrow. He's been out of the loop for months now, and they routinely seem to have at least a week or more form when a guy signs till when he plays, often longer. Not sure what that involves. Practice? Perhaps they go through some organizational orientation stuff? Beats me. But there's not likely to be enough season left to make it worth Vitters playing in any games. If anything, that's just asking for a downer. Advanced hitters like Donalsdon and Thomas didn't hit at Mesa for their first few games, I recall that with guys like Fox etc. in the past too. It's just asking to have a meaningless but depressingly low stats-line on his stats page to ask him to play out the last ten games of the season.

 

Few high draft picks play much their first year. In past, most HS guys would drag out the negotiations and back them up against the college year. In fact, I can only remember two, maybe three HS guys recently who signed quickly enough to get in some meaningful first-summer action: Luis Montanez, Pawalek, and perhaps Harvey. Heh, hopefully Vitters is avoiding their path!

 

I would be really shocked if Vitters opened at Peoria next spring. If so, he'll need to really knock their socks off in fall camp and spring training. He's only 17. No rush.

 

Any rumblings that they might sign anybody else? I'm still kind of hoping that they'll surprise us and sign somebody else before the deadline. But I don't expect that, it would be a surprise.

[Guest]

• Vitters (Cubs, No. 3) appears to be waiting for Price and Moustakas to sign above-slot deals in hopes that he can do the same. The No. 3 slot is estimated at $2.7 million, and Vitters is unlikely to exceed that by a significant percentage.

[wvcbxl]

Will someone at Cubs headquarters please check the date. 8-[

[YearofDaCubs]

Looks liks Wieters and the Orioles are about 5mil apart.

 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.wieters15aug15,0,6169851.story

[JeffH]

Looks liks Wieters and the Orioles are about 5mil apart.

 

In other words, one season's worth of Jay Payton.

 

If the Cubs didn't exist, the Orioles would be the worst franchise in MLB.

[YearofDaCubs]

Looks liks Wieters and the Orioles are about 5mil apart.

 

In other words, one season's worth of Jay Payton.

 

If the Cubs didn't exist, the Orioles would be the worst franchise in MLB.

While I agree that the Orioles are a pretty bad franchise, Wieters is asking for the moon here.

[CubColtPacer]

Looks liks Wieters and the Orioles are about 5mil apart.

 

In other words, one season's worth of Jay Payton.

 

If the Cubs didn't exist, the Orioles would be the worst franchise in MLB.

 

There simply isn't that much risk for the Orioles though. They get a pick that is basically comparable to Wieters next year-there is no reason for them to cave in to his demands if he is asking for too large of a deal.